Government’s response during COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal

Thapa, Manish (2021): Government’s response during COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal.

Abstract

While the country slowly progressed on a federal structure, the management aspect from the three-tier government to contain COVID and respond to the immediate needs of citizens remained an interesting area. The research adopted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed articles with the selection of articles written within the Nepali context in the areas of COVID management. The research found the contrasting response strategy adopted between the first wave (2020) and the second wave (2021). Management strategies were centralized and dictated by the federal government citing the lack of clear acts and policies to delegate roles and responsibilities during the first wave, thus failing to respond timely and effectively. Roles were much clearer and decentralized during the second wave, as the federal government emphasized maintaining diplomatic relations to receive health equipment’s, test kits and vaccines, while local government emphasizes the management of isolation, quarantines, health care services and vaccination.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Government, COVID-19 management, federal, effectiveness, citizen
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I0 - General; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I3 - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O2 - Development Planning and Policy; Z - Other Special Topics > Z0 - General

References

Adhikari, U. R. (2020). COVID-19: the economic outlook, impact, authorities and long termn strategies of Nepal. 815868162. Adhikari, B., & Budhathoki, S. S. (2020). Silver-lining in the Time of Mayhem: The Role of Local Governments of Nepal During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JNMA: Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 58(231), 960. Adhikari, B., Ozaki, A., Marahatta, S. B., Rijal, K. R., & Mishra, S. R. (2020). Earthquake rebuilding and response to COVID-19 in Nepal, a country nestled in multiple crises. Journal of Global Health, 10(2). Adhikary, P., Balen, J., Gautam, S., Ghimire, S., Karki, J. K., Lee, A., ... & Van Teijlingen, E. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: Emerging evidence on the effectiveness of action by, and cooperation between, different levels of government in a federal system. Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, 3(3), 1-11. Alexander, D. (2008). Managing hazards and disasters: new theories, new imperatives. Retrieved August 16, 2021. Basnet, B. B., Bishwakarma, K., Pant, R. R., Dhakal, S., Pandey, N., Gautam, D., ... & Basnet, T. B. (2021). Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of the first wave from Nepal. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. Basnet, S., Koirala, S., Pandey, B., & Koirala, J. (2020). COVID-19 containment efforts of a low-resource nation: the first four months in Nepal. Cureus, 12(7). Bastola, A., Sah, R., Rodriguez-Morales, A. J., Lal, B. K., Jha, R., Ojha, H. C., ... & Pandey, B. D. (2020). The first 2019 novel coronavirus case in Nepal. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(3), 279-280. Baumann, F. (2021). The Next Frontier—Human Development and the Anthropocene: UNDP Human Development Report 2020. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 63(3), 34-40. Bhatt, N., Bhatt, B., Gurung, S., Dahal, S., Jaishi, A. R., Neupane, B., & Budhathoki, S. S. (2020). Perceptions and experiences of the public regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: a qualitative study using phenomenological analysis. BMJ open, 10(12), e043312. Bhattarai, S., Dhungana, J., Ensor, T., & Shrestha, U. B. (2020). Health services availability and readiness for COVID-19 case surge in hospitals of Nepal. Bhattarai, S., & Dhungana, J. (2021). A million-dose success for Nepal: insights from Nepal’s national vaccine deployment plan against COVID-19. Journal of Travel Medicine, 28(4), taab027. Bhusal, T. (2020). Citizen participation in times of crisis: Understanding participatory budget during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement, 4(2), 3. Biedscheid, J. M. (2020). Non-state Actors’ COVID-19 Response in Nepal. Chalise, H. N. (2020). COVID-19 situation and challenges for Nepal. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 32(5), 281-282. Chaudhary, M. K. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Nepalese Socio-Economic Scenario and Narrowed Economic and Social Life. International Journal of Modern Agriculture, 9(4), 667-678. Dana, L. P. (2014). Asian models of entrepreneurship—from the Indian Union and Nepal to the Japanese Archipelago: Context, policy and practice. Dangal, B. (2021). Responding Second Wave of COVID-19: Experience in Lower Resource Setting of Eastern Nepal. Journal of General Practice and Emergency Medicine of Nepal, 8(11), 63-65. Devkota, H. R., Sijali, T. R., Bogati, R., Clarke, A., Adhikary, P., & Karkee, R. (2020). How does public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors correlate in relation to COVID-19? A community-based cross-sectional study in Nepal. Frontiers in Public Health, 8. Dhakal, S., & Karki, S. (2020). Early epidemiological features of COVID-19 in Nepal and public health response. Frontiers in Medicine, 7, 524. Dhimal, M., Neupane, T., Adhikari, S. K., & Gyanwali, P. (2020). Trend of COVID-19 cases and health sector response in Nepal. Applied Science and Technology Annals, 1(1), 51-57. Dhungana, N. (2020). Human dignity and cross-border migrants in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. World Development, 136, 105174. Gautam, D. (2017). Assessment of social vulnerability to natural hazards in Nepal. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 17(12), 2313-2320. Gautam, D. (2020). Nepal's Readiness and Response to COVID-19: Key Initiatives, Emergency Challenges, and the Way Forward. National Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1. Giri, A. K., & Rana, D. R. (2020). Charting the challenges behind the testing of COVID-19 in developing countries: Nepal as a case study. Gyawali, N., & Al-Amin, H. M. (2021). Living and Dying With COVID-19 in South Asian Low-and Middle-Income Countries. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. Gyanwali, P., Bista, N. R., Khadka, M., Vaidya, A., Mahato, N. K., & Kumar, M. (2021). Assessment of Preparedness of Government of Nepal in COVID Designated Hospitals and Clinics for Pandemic Response. management, 42, 45-2. Holmes, R., Samuels, F., Evans, M., Ghimire, A., & Twigg, J. (2019). The contribution of Nepal’s social security allowance schemes to emergency flood response. ILO (May 2020). COVID-19 labour market impact in Nepal. International Labour Organization Karki. B. (2020). Multi-level Government and COVID-19: Nepal as a Case Study. Melbourne Forum: on Constitution Building Koirala. S. (April 1, 2020). Response to COVID-19 Crisis in Nepal. The Himalayan Times. https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/response-to-covid-19-crisis-in-nepal/. Retrieved on June 8, 2020 Koirala, S., Yadav, K., Yadav, B. K., Koirala, N., Khatiwada, A., & Dhakal, R. (2020). Status and Response Till Third Stage of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nepal. Logan, M. (April 24, 2020). Helping the helpless during lockdown. Nepali Times. https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/helping-the-helpless-during-lockdown/. Retrieved on June 22, 2020 Mainali, R., Tosun, M. S., & Yilmaz, S. (2021). Local Response to the COVID‐19 pandemic: The case of Nepal. Public Administration and Development, 41(3), 128-134. Marahatta, S. B., Mahotra, A., & Aryal, N. (2020). How should Nepal apply lock-down exit strategy against rising COVID-19 burden in Nepal?. Applied Science and Technology Annals, 1(1), 58-62. Maskey, M., & Pandey, A. (2021). COVID-19 Pandemic, Vaccine Diplomacy and the Recommended Course of Action for the Government of Nepal [PRI Publication No. 023]. Kathmandu: Policy Research Institute. Mathew, R., & Upreti, B. R. (2018). Disaster capitalism in Nepal. Peace Review, 30(2), 176-183. Pantha, B., Acharya, S., Joshi, H. R., & Vaidya, N. K. (2021). Inter-provincial disparity of COVID-19 transmission and control in Nepal. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-16. Panthee, B., Dhungana, S., Panthee, N., Paudel, A., Gyawali, S., & Panthee, S. (2020). COVID-19: the current situation in Nepal. New microbes and new infections, 100737. Parajuli, S. B., Kuikel, J., Lama, S., & Heera, K. C. (2020). Efforts and Challenges in the COVID-19 Mitigation in Nepal. Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2, 124-126. Paudel, S., & Marahatta, S. B. (2020). Tackling COVID-19 in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, 3. Piryani, R. M., Piryani, S., & Shah, J. N. (2020). Nepal's response to contain COVID-19 Infection. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 18(1), 128. Prajapati, B., Vora, K. S., Fathah, Z., Sah, R., Tiwari, R., Malik, Y. S., ... & Natesan, S. (2020). Emergence of second wave of sars-cov-2 infections during the ongoing covid-19 pandemic: A mini review. Dr. Kuldeep Dhama, 57. Rajbhandari, B., Gurung, M., Poudel, L., Shrestha, A., & Karmacharya, B. M. (2020). Probable exit strategy against COVID-19 of low resource country like Nepal: open floor discussion. JNMA: Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 58(224), 286. Rana, T., & Chalise, H. N. (2021). Covid-19 Containment Strategies: A Comparative Analysis of Hong Kong and Nepal. Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, 4(2). Rasul, G., Nepal, A. K., Hussain, A., Maharjan, A., Joshi, S., Lama, A., ... & Sharma, E. (2021). Socio-Economic Implications Of Covid-19 Pandemic In South Asia: Emerging Risks And Growing Challenges. Frontiers in Sociology, 6. Raut, N. K. (2020). A Review of the Economic Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Policies in Nepal. Ray, B. (2017). Response of a resilient community to natural disasters: the Gorkha Earthquake in Nepal, 2015. The Professional Geographer, 69(4), 644-654. Rayamajhee, B., Pokhrel, A., Syangtan, G., Khadka, S., Lama, B., Rawal, L. B., ... & Yadav, U. N. (2021). How Well the Government of Nepal Is Responding to COVID-19? An Experience From a Resource-Limited Country to Confront Unprecedented Pandemic. Frontiers in public health, 9, 85. Sapkota, K., Dangal, G., Koirala, M., Sapkota, K., Poudel, A., & Dhital, S. R. (2020). Strategies for prevention and control of COVID-19 in Nepal. Journal of Patan Academy of Health Sciences, 7(1), 85-88. Secretariat, C. A., & Durbar, S. (2015). Constitution of Nepal 2015. Kathmandu: Constituent Assembly Secretariat. Sarkar, A., Liu, G., Jin, Y., Xie, Z., & Zheng, Z. J. (2020). Public health preparedness and responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in South Asia: a situation and policy analysis. Global Health Journal, 4(4), 121-132. Shah, J. N., Shah, J., & Shah, J. (2020). Quarantine, isolation and lockdown: in context of COVID-19. Journal of Patan Academy of Health Sciences, 7(1), 48-57. Sharma, K., Banstola, A., & Parajuli, R. R. (2021). Assessment of COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: A lockdown scenario analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. Sherpa, T. L. (2021). Covid-19 in Nepal: Governance and its Implication on Public Health Measures. Nepalese Medical Journal, 4(1), 450-453. Singh, D. R., Sunuwar, D. R., Adhikari, B., Szabo, S., & Padmadas, S. S. (2020). The perils of COVID-19 in Nepal: Implications for population health and nutritional status. Journal of global health, 10(1). Shrestha, B., & Pathranarakul, P. (2018). Nepal government’s emergency response to the 2015 earthquake: a case study. Social Sciences, 7(8), 127. Shrestha, G. S., & Lamsal, R. (2021). Rational Use of Oxygen in COVID-19 Pandemic-Are We Doing Enough?. Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 59(236). Shrestha, G. S., Paneru, H. R., Acharya, S. P., Shrestha, S. K., Sigdel, M. R., Tiwari, S., ... & Lakhey, S. (2020). Preparedness for coronavirus disease in hospitals of Nepal: a nationwide survey. JNMA: Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 58(224), 248. Shrestha, N., Mishra, S. R., Ghimire, S., Gyawali, B., Marahatta, S. B., Maskey, S., ... & Adhikari, B. (2020). Health System Preparedness in Tackling the COVID-19 in Nepal: a Qualitative Study Among Frontline Healthcare Workers and Policymakers. Thakur, R. K., Singh, R., Shrestha, G., Gautam, S., & Singh, S. K. (2020). The COVID-19 paradox and exit strategy for Nepal. Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2, 83-88. Subedi. S. (April 30, 2020). Nepal’s federal success. Record Nepal. https://www.recordnepal.com/covid19/nepals-federal-success/. Retrieved on 8 June 2020 Yadav. K. A. & Jha. J. (2020). Role of Judiciary and Social Welfare to Combat Coronavirus Pandemic in Nepal: A Study with Special Reference to India’s Epidemic Law. ILI Law Review [Special Issue 2020] Yadav, U. N., Rayamajhee, B., Mistry, S. K., Parsekar, S. S., & Mishra, S. K. (2020). A syndemic perspective on the management of non-communicable diseases amid the COVID-19 pandemic in low-and middle-income countries. Frontiers in public health, 8, 508.